Deputy AA leader describes fruitful FPNCC meeting in Wa State

19 Sep 2022

DMG Newsroom
19 September 2022, Sittwe

The recent meeting between members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) in Panghsang, Wa State, was productive, according to the deputy commander-in-chief of the Arakan Army (AA), Dr. Nyo Twan Awng.

The FPNCC is led by the United Wa State Army (UWSA), and includes the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), and the AA.

Dr. Nyo Twan Awng recently met UWSA leaders in Panghsang, the UWSA’s headquarters, along with leaders of the NDAA, MNDAA and TNLA. KIA representatives also attended the meeting.

The AA deputy leader declined to provide details about the meeting during a press conference held by the Arakanese ethnic armed group on Monday. He met with UWSA leaders separately in Shan State’s Mongla before meeting with the leaders and representatives of fellow FPNCC members in Panghsang.

The AA is currently engaged in active conflict with Myanmar’s military regime in northern Arakan State and neighbouring Paletwa Township, Chin State.

“The AA has seized military outposts, and there have also been aerial assaults by the military,” noted one political analyst. “So the AA might have asked the UWSA either to help mediate peace talks with the regime or to provide it with anti-aircraft weapons like FN-6 [a man-portable air defence system] to counter the air raids.”

The KIA, which is based in northern Myanmar, is also fighting Myanmar’s military regime, and the SSPP also clashed with junta troops in Shan State over the weekend, after the regime demanded that SSPP troops withdraw from Momeik in northern Shan State.

Dr. Nyo Twan Awng said he travelled to Mongla to build ties with newly appointed UWSA leaders, adding that it had been a long time since FPNCC members last met.

“As we hadn’t met each other for ages, we updated each other on our situations, and [held talks on] deepening our cooperation,” said the deputy AA leader. “We exchanged views on situations in Arakan State and the Bamar state. And we intend to work more closely with the younger generation of UWSA leaders. The meeting will be of great benefit for the months to come.”